What Is Silica Sand?

Silica sand, also called quartz sand, white sand, or industrial sand, is comprised of two primary components: silica and also oxygen. Particularly, silica sand is comprised of silicon dioxide (SiO2).
The most typical type of SiO2 is quartz-- a chemically inert and relatively hard mineral. SiO2 qualities at a 7 out of 10 on Mohs hardness scale, making it ideal for use as filtration media as well as abrasive blasting sands.
Although quartz is frequently white or colourless, it can come in a vast array of shades. The colour of each sand deposit depends largely on the range of minerals as well as rock detritus that make up the resource.
In order to be considered a silica sand the material must consist of at the very least 95% SiO2 and less than 0.6% iron oxide. If the sand does not satisfy this criteria, it will certainly certify as what's typically called 'regular' sand.

How Does Silica Sand Differ From Regular Sand

Regular sand, likewise known as feldspathic sand, brownish sand, or construction sand, will constantly consist of some silica, yet just in quantities less than 95%. For instance, normal brown sand made use of for concrete applications can contain as much as 80% SiO2, in addition to varying amounts of iron, carbonate, potassium, as well as various other trace elements/minerals.
These 'contaminations' make regular sand much more chemically reactive as well as usually darker in colour when contrasted to silica sand. The shade for non-silica sands (regular sands) can be different shades white, pink, environment-friendly, and black too-- depending upon the geological makeup and also geographic place of the sand down payment.